Already, Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network is available in 117 cities across the United States, covering more than 160 million Americans or half the U.S. population. With the new market launch, customers with 4G LTE devices will be able to take advantage of speeds up to 10 times faster than the company’s 3G network.

The 4G LTE coverage area will extend through Las Cruces proper with coverage along Interstate 10 to the New Mexico/Texas border. The 4G LTE network will also launch in El Paso, Texas on Sept. 15.

Customers can choose from an array of devices on Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network including:

Smartphones: Revolution™ by LG, DROID Charge by Samsung and ThunderBolt™ by HTC

In real-world, fully loaded network environments, Verizon Wireless 4G LTE users should experience average data rates of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink. Verizon 4G LTE smartphones are twice as fast as any AT&T smartphone.

Verizon Wireless introduced its 4G LTE network on Dec. 5, 2010, covering more than 110 million Americans, and in just eight months expanded to cover more than half the U.S. population. The company plans to continue rapidly expanding its 4G LTE network and is on course to cover more than 185 million Americans by the end of 2011 and its entire 3G coverage area by the end of 2013.

As the first wireless company in the world to broadly deploy a large-scale 4G LTE network, Verizon Wireless is committed to building its 4G LTE network with the same performance and reliability for which it has long been recognized, and in less than eight months since launch, has won numerous technology and consumer choice awards. Verizon Wireless’ consistent focus on reliability is based on rigid engineering standards and a disciplined deployment approach year after year. The company’s 700 MHz spectrum gives Verizon Wireless specific advantages with 4G LTE, including a contiguous, nationwide network license.